Construction of galleries and tunnels for mines and the like



Dec. 24, 1929. H. SCHAEFER 1,740,961

CONSTRUCTION OF GALLERIES AND TUNNELS FOR MINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 24, 1929. H. SCHAEFER 1,740,961

CONSTRUCTION OF GALLERIES AND TUNNELS FOR MINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //////I// a f Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANNS SCI-IAEFER, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM N. V. IvIONTANIA, OF THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS CONSTRUCTION OF GALLERIES AND TUNNELS FOR MINES AND THE LIKE Application filed September 30, 1924, Serial No. 740,827, and in Germany October 3, 1923.

This invention has reference to improved means of constructing tunnels, stulms or galleries for mines and for similar purposes in which a certain amount of resiliency is combined with such an arrangement and dimensioning of the lining of the tunnel or the like that the line of pressure will always fall within the tunnel lining. In accordance with my invention artificial stones, bricks or plates of artificial stone material of slightly wedge shaped cross section are combined, so as to constitute rings or arches or curved portions, and in further pursuance of my invention the plates, bricks or the like constituting the individual rings or arches will be assembled without bond, or they may be combined by a comparatively weak bonding only by means of a binding layer of concrete, a layer of iron-concrete or by iron binders provided within each of the rings or arched portions of a nature and arrangement to allow of the rings, arches or curvatures to yield with a certain deformation to the pressure of the rock, so that the construction according to my invention possesses a certain amount of interior resiliency, similar to the timber walling of drifts and galleries to such a degree that the engagement and coherence of the rings and arched vaults is preserved, the said manner of bonding according to my invention being merely intended for the purpose of preventing the dropping out of individual plates from the vault in consequence of excessive deformation or alteration of shape. With this kind of interiorly resilient construction of walling it is of advantage to impart the greatest possible height to the plates, so that even with rather considerable alterations of shape of the rings or arches the line of pressure will remain within the shell of the vault. On the other hand, however, it is of importance for the purpose of economy of material to construct the plates in such a manner that their bases are substantially not larger than is required for the taking up of the compressing stresses occurring between the plates. With a view of coming up to these two widely difi'ering requirements, the plates, bricks, stones or the like according to invention are provided with transverse.

projections or extensions, the plates or the like being for instance of angular, or T- or U- shaped formation or arched or curved, and being preferably of wedge shaped configuration. The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example lining bricks or stones and gallery and tunnel-shells or linings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of block or brick embodying by way of example the principles of this invention and to be employed in the construction of mine galleries and tunnels of different cross sections; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another exemplification of blocks, and F igures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are still other examplilications of blocks or bricks according to the principles of this invention. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tunnel or gallery to be obtained by the use of the blocks according to Figure 1; Figure 8 is a perspective view of another kind of tunnel or gallery, employing by way of example the blocks according to Figure 2, and possessing a cross sectional shape with substantially fiat bottom, it being understood however that the same and other cross sectional shapes of tunnels and galleries may be obtained by the use of any other kinds of blocks according to this invention. Figure 9 shows another exemplification in per spective view of a mine gallery or tunnel with straight side walls and flat bottom and arched roof in the construction of which the blocks according to either Figure 1 or Figure 4 may be employed. Figure 10 is a diagrammatic elevation with parts in section, illustrating by way of example two spatially disposed tunnel sections with planks or the like, connecting the same, and Figures 11 and 12 are respectively longitudinal sections of a tunnel lining.

The artificial stones, mouldings or plates (1 for the construction of the linings are of slightly wedge shaped cross section, and seen in plan view, they may be angular, as shown in Figure 1, or T-shaped (Fig. 2) or arched (Figure 3) or U-shaped (Fig. 4) and at their place of utilization, that is to say in the galleries, stulms or drifts, they are asin accordance with the compression strains prevailing in the rocks, so as to form either cylindrical rings produced by the adjacently disposed projections a of the block shown in Figure 1 (Figure 7), or oval rings produced for instance by the adjacently disposed, substantially central projections a of the modified construction of block, shown in Figure 2 (Figure 8) or arched shaped pieces (Figure 9) consisting of a vaulted top 0 and vertical piers or limbs cl. In the case of the lining of drifts or transverse galleries which are exposed to strong pressure on all sides, the lining is preferably of cylindrical shape, while, when the walls or linings are submitted to a less heavy top pressure, side pressure or bottom pressure, the lining may be made of oval shape; and in the case of drifts or galleries merely exposed to. top pressure, the

- cross sectional shape shown in Figure 9 with arched top and vertical limbs will be preferred. In case the rock exerts only a weak pressure, the rings or arches may also be spacedly arranged in the axial direction of the tunnel, the spaces between the rings being covered up with wooden planks or plates g, as shown in Figure 10. Cylindrical, oval and curved or arched pieces of linings may also be alternatingly arranged in accordance with the conditions of the rock.

The plates are preferably assembled with outwardly directed limbs, so that the lining presents a smooth inside wall, so as to facilitate the ventilation, and in track galleries, also the laying of the rails. The blocks employed in the construction of the mine-galleries or tunnels according 'to my invention are particularly distinguished by a plain body portion a and a bevelled, more or less wedge-shaped marginal extension thereof, substantially flush with the body part, and directed to the outside, when the blocks are assembled to form tunnel walls. Such extension or limb is either unsymmetrically disposed as shown at a in Figures 1 and 7 or centrally disposed, as shown at a in Figures 2 and 8, or the extension or limb may be substantially U-shaped, as indicated at and respectively a in Figures 3 and 4t,or, as shown in Figure 5, it may constitute an outer section, offset at a from the body section, or an outer section, angularly offset at a on opposite sides from the body section a. Blocks with central, laterally bevelled extensions are shown at a in Figure 10 of the drawings. The employment of sectionally wedgeshaped plates or blocks is particularly advantageous for the reason that, as shown by the line of pressure in Figures 11 and 12, the side components of the forces acting upon the plates are caused to operate through a large plate section, and each plate is merely subjectto compression strain, which is the most favorable for concrete. In View of the comparatively great height of the bricks the line of pressure will always extend within the brick lining of the tunnel or the like even in the case of the otherwise most unfavorable direction of compressing forces, that is to say, with the pressure vertically directed into a wedge joint and with the plates having their wedgeshaped sides directed outwards. The plates may be wedge-shaped on one side only, as seen in Figure 5, or on both sides, as appears from Figure 6.

The plates or blocks constituting the individual rings or vaults may be placed side by side of each other both in the peripheral direction as well as in the axial direction of the lining and without bond, by means of which a certain resiliency and yielding of the lining with relation to the pressure of the rock is made possible, resulting in alterations of shape, thus for instance by the transition of the annular shape of Figure 7 into a more or less oval shape; or of the oval shape, seen in Figure 8 into a more flattened oval shape or by a slight stretching of the arch, seen in Fig. 9, so that a lining or shell according to this invention merely by a slight alteration of shape will be adapted to escape the influences of the pressure for a time, similar to timber lining, for which purpose according to the experience gained in timber construction, very small deformations of the lining are already suiiicient. It is, however, advantageous in certain cases to produce a weak bond between the several plates by a circumferential insertion layer 6 of concrete or iron concrete or of iron, and for this purpose the plates at are provided with cor responding recesses preferably disposed substantially at the root of the limbs or extensions of the block or extending somewhat into the same and serving for the reception of any suitable connecting or bonding means. The bonding means should, however, in all cases be so arranged and dimensioned as not to interfere with the yielding of the lining by deformation under the action of the pressure of the rock, it being merely intended to prevent the dropping out of some plates from the lining rings or arches, provided exceptionally large deformations shouldaccidentally occur in some places. 1 lVith this kind of loose combination the several plates are merely subjected to pressure strain, which is a point of importance, inasmuch as concrete is known to possess high resistance to pressure, but only small tensional strength. In order to avoid opening of the joints of the plates at certain points, separate compressible woo-den bars 72, may be inserted into the lining ring or arches. These wooden bars will, of course, yield, when the pressure of the rock upon the structure exceeds a certain limit, inasmuch as their crushing strength is inferior to that of the bricks, so that by the provision of these compressible bars or plugs h on the one hand, and of the comparatively weak bonding or insertion members e, hereinbefore referred to which are also adapted to yield to certain compressive strains, crushing of the bricks consequent of the pressure of the rock thereupon is prevented. Besides, the said wooden bars or plugs it being liable to swell by the absorption of moisture will operate to force the bricks into contact with each other and prevent the formation of gaps and leaks in the structure.

The connection of the lining with the rock is effected by a back lining f of broken rock or the like. With a view of causing this back lining to also extend in a wedge-like manner between the marginal extensions of the plates or blocks above referred to, these projections or extensions a of the plates, bricks or stones, as appears from Figures 1 to 4, are preferably somewhat outwardly reduced.

The construction of tunnel shells or linings herein described by being provided with no bonding means or with only loosely engaging bonds within each particular shell portion may also be easily dismantled, and may be used and erected at other places. The invention has been shown and described herein in its broad aspects only, and it should be understood that changes and modifications may occur both in the shape, dimensioning and arrangements of parts in accordance with varying external conditions and the convenience of the operator, except as specified in the claims hereunto appended.

I claim 1. In a tubular mine and tunnel construction and the like, a plurality of arched courses of bricks, comprising each a plurality of tapering, unconnected, contacting, uni-directionally disposed bricks of suflicient exten sion in the axial direction of the arches and at least equal vertical extension to cause the line of compression to extend within the brickwork itself, compressible insertion bars between certain groups of bricks and in the axial direction of the arches, and outwardly extending projecting legs on said bricks.

2. In a tubular mine and tunnel construction and the like, a plurality of arched courses of bricks, comprising each a plurality of unconnected, tapering, contacting and uni-directionally disposed bricks, outwardly laterally reduced flat extensions on the outer ends of the bricks and in a plane with their contacting surfaces, and adapted to form exterior rings on said arches.

3. In a tubular mine and tunnel construction and the like, a plurality of arched courses of bricks, comprising each a plurality of unconnected, tapering, contacting and unidirectionally disposed bricks, exterior, outwardly laterally reduced flat extensions at the outer ends of the bricks and outwardly flaring from the contacting surfaces thereof, and adapted to form exterior rings on said arches,

and compressible insertion bars lengthwise of the arches between certain groups of the bricks.

4:. In a tubular mine and tunnel construction and the like, a plurality of arched courses of bricks, comprising each a plurality of unconnected, apertured, tapering, contacting and uni-directionally disposed bricks, exterior, outwardly laterally reduced flat extensions at the outer ends of the bricks and outwardly flaring from the contacting surfaces thereof, and a continuous band of plugging material, loosely disposed in the apertures of said bricks.

5. In a tubular mine and tunnel construc tion and the like, a plurality of spacedly disposed arched courses of bricks parallel to each other and each comprising a plurality of unconnected, tapering, contacting and uni-directionally disposed bricks, exterior, outwardly flaring extensions on said bricks and adapted to form rings 011 the outside of said arches, and covering means between the courses in the longitudinal direction of said tubular construction.

6. In a tubular mine and tunnel construction and the like, a plurality of substantially arched courses of bricks, each of said courses comprising a plurality of substantially unconnected, tapering, contacting and uni-directionally disposed bricks, exterior extensions on said bricks, and circumferential, coarsely granular bonding means in which the extensions are imbedded and surrounding the arches.

7. In a tunnel structure for mines and the like, a plurality of parallel courses of unidirectionally disposed, substantially T- shaped, contacting and substantially unconnected, tapering bricks, with their broad portions forming the brick-courses, and their stems constituting exterior circumferential rings, and substantially flush with the contacting surfaces.

8. In a tunnel structure for mines and the like, a plurality of parallel courses of unidirectionally disposed, substantially T- shaped, apertured, contacting and substantially unconnected, tapering bricks with their broad portions forming the brick-courses, and their stems constituting exterior circumferential rings, and a band of circumferentially extending plugging means, loosely disposed in the apertures of the bricks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HANNS SCI-IAEFER. 

